Apparatus for removing edge strips cut off in longitudinal slitting and grooving machines

Abstract

Upon upper and lower cutting tools, in a slitting machine, cutting along the opposite edges of a web being adjusted transversely to the web, a corresponding suction nozzle, for taking up the cut-off edge of the web, is correspondingly adjusted transversely to ensure that it takes up the cut-off edge, by a respective drive unit. For ensuring entry of the leading end of a cut-off edge strip into the nozzle, a respective finger is swung down in advance of the leading end.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for removing edge strips cut from a longitudinally movable web of material in a longitudinal web slitting and grooving machine, comprising: edge cutting tool means for each longitudinal edge of said web, frame means for supporting said edge cutting tool means for transverse movement relative to said web, suction nozzle means for each lateral edge of said web mounted on said frame means and movable therewith, and drive means for adjusting said frame means and, consequently, each said suction nozzle means transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of said web in correspondence with the respective said edge cutting tool means for registering with and receiving the respective edge strip cut from said web. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said suction nozzle has a respective pick-up mechanism thereon and actuating means for moving said pick-up mechanism into the path of a leading end of the respective edge strip for guiding it into said nozzle. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pickup mechanism comprises a swingable pick-up finger. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further including a respective controllable drive means for swinging said pick-up finger. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further including a web guiding table over which said web passes, said pick-up finger being mounted above said table, a recess being provided in said table to receive the free end of said finger upon it being swung down. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said actuating means includes a pivot drive means for said finger, wherein a web sensor means is provided for sensing the presence of a web, and includes means coupling said web sensor means with said pivot drive means to effect a swinging of said finger downwards in response to an approach of a leading end of said web sensed by said web sensor means. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including, adjacent each suction nozzle means and above a remaining portion of said web, a respective holding down roller which rollingly engages said web to prevent said web from closing off said suction nozzle means as said edge strip is drawn off into said suction nozzle means. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said frame means includes a threaded rod extending transversely of said web and is adapted to be rotated to adjust the lateral position of said suction nozzle means relative to said web. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said drive means is actuated in response to a sensor means which senses the position of the respective edge cutting tool. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said sensor means is a photoelectric sensor comprising inner and outer light barriers which cooperate with reflectors on the respective edge cutting tools. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said suction nozzle means has a rectangular suction aperture.